Experience is one thing the 2015 Drake University football team has plenty of, as second year head coach Rick Fox has a roster that features 36 returning letterwinners and 21 players that recorded at least one start last season.
The defense is looking to continue where they left off from last year as the top defense in the Pioneer Football League with eight returning starters. The defensive line has plenty of experience to replace multiple all-PFL selections Matt Acree and Brett Park. The Bulldogs will have 2014 PFL Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and All-PFL honorable mention selection Mack Marrin along with fifth-year senior Colton Rodgers, senior Al Wegener and junior Tanner Evans, who have seen significant playing time in 41 games, to produce a strong front-four.
Drake returns two of the best linebackers in the PFL, two-time team captain John Hugunin and senior Taylor Coleman. Hugunin is coming off his third straight All-PFL performance as he ranked fourth in the PFL among linebackers with an average of 8.9 tackles per game. He finished second on the team with 89 total tackles. Coleman led the 2014 Bulldogs with 95 total tackles, earning honorable mention All-PFL honors. Senior Michael Roane will look to fill the third linebacker spot, as he saw significant playing time in all 11 games last year.
The Bulldogs' secondary will be looking to force more turnovers this year as they return five players that combined to force 10 of Drake's 15 turnovers last season. Drake welcomes back a pair of lockdown cornerbacks, fifth-year seniors Brad Duwe and John Bloss. Duwe received second-team All-PFL honors after recording two interceptions, eight pass break-ups, 40 tackles and a forced fumble last fall. Bloss ranked fifth on the team with 41 tackles and also tallied a pair of interceptions. The Bulldogs are excited to have back their two hard-hitting safeties, fifth-year senior Bob Quilico and senior Caz Zyks. Quilico garnered his third consecutive honorable mention All-PFL award last year after recording 74 tackles and a team-best 10 passes defended, while Zyks ranked fourth for Drake with 74 tackles.
On the offensive side, Drake is primed to build off of its successes from last year as the Bulldogs return eight starters from a year ago. Drake will have fifth-year senior quarterback Andy Rice orchestrating the offense for the third straight year. Rice has plenty off options to go to with his top four receiving targets, Michael Hudson, Eric Saubert, Lee Snell and Grant Menard, and two explosive running backs, Conley Wilkins and Gary Scott, returning. Hudson, Sauber, Snell and Menard combined for over 50 percent of the Bulldogs' receiving yards and over 55 percent of the team's receptions last year. Wilkins led the team in rushing with 705 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, while Scott was Drake's leading rusher in 2013 and 2012. Drake's offensive line welcomes back four starters, including second team All-PFL performers John McMahon and Aaron Melton, who are ready to set the tone for the offense.
The Bulldogs return two kickers, Cam Bohnert and Josh Lee and welcome freshman Danny Donley, as all three will vie for the opportunity to put the ball through the uprights.
Bohnert, a senior, handled the punting duties last year and pinned opponents deep with 17 of his 50 punts ending up inside the 20-yard line. He also boomed seven punts 50 or more yards.
The Bulldogs open the 2015 season on Sept. 5 as Drake hosts William Jewell at 6 p.m.
